“Hey,” he said, smiling at me. “I don’t actually need you along on a horseback ride, do I? I mean, you’re not actually my babysitter, because I’m not six, am I right?”
It was nice that he was checking, since I was supposed to be protecting him. “You are right,” I agreed cheerfully, plastering on a smile for good measure. “I’m only here to ensure your safety and sobriety, and since you’re not jeopardizing either of those, go for it.”
He looked horrified.
“What?” I asked brightly.
“You look weird, like you’ve been lobotomized or something.”
“No,” I teased him. “But you have fun now.”
“I’m sure I will,” he said, looking at me askance before he turned and left.
I heard the horse’s whinny and then returned my attention to my mother.
“Locryn,” she said sharply, glaring at me. “Honey, what are you doing?”
“Really, Mom?” I said, my face scrunching up as I stared at her. “That’s the guy you want for me?”
“Honey, I––”
“He doesn’t even know himself, and you think he should take me on?”
“What do you mean ‘take you on’?” she said irritably. “As though you’re a burden? Broken in some way?”
“Come here,” I said, holding out my hand to her.
She moved quickly, rushing forward to put her hand in mine. I led her to the couch and sat her down with me.
“Nick Madison lives in a world that I can’t ever hope to be a part of,” I assured her. “And yeah, before we went to dinner, before he met Jamie, I was thinking maybe there was more to him and me, but I realize now that it was just a thawing of the tension between us.”
“Oh, sweetheart.”
I explained about the months where we’d been mortal enemies, and then the sudden breakthrough, albeit a short-lived one, at Stig’s house, then how we’d maybe made a connection after the Malibu stuff. “I was so relieved we were actually talking that I made more of it than it was.”
“No,” she argued, clutching at my hand. “I think he––”
“Ma,” I said wistfully, sighing deeply, sad that I’d been stupid and knowing that, now, with what I’d just discovered, none of it mattered anyway. “He’s a multimillionaire, and he needs someone who fits with him, yeah?” I said, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “Jamie fits, other creative people fit, people who are in his orbit fit. But not me.”
She was searching my face. “There’s something else, why do you look so sad?”
“I need to tell you something, but I need you not to tell Nick.”
“Of course, honey.”
And then I proceeded to break her just a little, just enough so she’d know he was hurt, but not the particulars. She didn’t need to know those.
I had to hug her really tight when I was done.
Nine
My flight landed at the Calexico International Airport mere hours after the call to Owen and my conversation with Jared. As I was getting off the plane, the captain let me know he’d be there when I was ready to go. I told him how much I appreciated it and started across the tarmac. I spotted Rais, Cooper, and Ella immediately. The black Lincoln Navigator was hard to miss, as was the fact that they were all wearing tactical gear and standing in a circle playing rock-paper-scissors. They looked like mercenaries, and I wondered if I was getting a cool outfit too.
“Hey,” I called out.
Immediately, Rais and Cooper stepped back, leaving Ella in front.
“What?” I asked her, noticing the grins on both Rais and Cooper.
“I’ve been elected to tell you that you get to drive,” she informed me.
I was confused. “Sure, I’ll drive.”
“Your clothes are in the back,” Rais told me.
Opening the driver’s side door, I leaned in to see my boss riding shotgun.
“Let’s go, Loc,” he barked at me. “Change so we can get moving. I have the map. I’ll tell you exactly where to go.”
Ten minutes later, on our way to Walker Evans’s house on the outskirts of town, I lifted my gaze to the back seat…where no one was meeting my gaze.
“That’s a red light,” Jared announced, though I could see it clear as day. “You want to roll up slowly, not drive like a maniac. It may be three in the morning, but we don’t want to break the law.”
Oh dear God.
“Don’t go too fast, we don’t want to get pulled over. You need to signal when you change lanes. Why are you riding this guy’s ass? You do know you’re supposed to have three car lengths between you and the next guy, not five. Speed the hell up! Do you always ride your brakes?”
Apparently, the ride from their respective homes in Chicago to O’Hare had taught the other fixers that driving for Jared Colter was not something you wanted anything to do with. Now it was clear why I’d been “elected” to drive.